Beam counterbalance



May 10, 1932. F. HARDER ET AL BEAM COUNTERBALANCE Filed June 12. 1929 I IV VE IV TORS. Pia/v! Jaw B.

CH/IRLES \M Nimrod BX MR NE X Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FRANK HARDER, or HUNTINGTON BEACH, JOHN B. WATSON, or GARDEN cRovE, AND

cHARLRs w. MIDDLETo oF LONG BEACH. cAmroRNIA; SAID MIDDLETON AS-' sIGNoR TO sArD'HARDRR AND SAID WATSON r BEAM COUNTERBALANCE n Application filed June 12,

This invention relates to a counterbalance for the walking beams on pumping wells. For certain purposes when the well is not being pumped it is desirable to relieve the beam of the weight of the counterbalance.

An object of our invention is to provide a counterbalance which can be quickly and easily supported above the beam so that the beam is relieved of the weight of the counterbalance.

Another object is to provide a counterbalance which can be returned to its proper position with little elfort on the part of the operator.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of our counterbalance in position on a walking beam.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of our counterbalance suspended above the walking beam.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3, 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a slightly modified pivoting arrangement.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of supporting means for the counterbalance.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the walking beam which is of usual and well-known construction. The beam is supported upon a post 2 and pivots in a bearing 8. The beam is oscillated about its pivot by means of the connecting arm 4, all of which is usual and well-known in the art. 5 is positioned on the end of the beam adjacent the operating arm 4 so as to counterbalance the weight of the rods, and so forth, which are suspended from the opposite end of the beam. Our counterbalance 5 comprises a tray 6 upon which a plurality of superposed weights 7 are positioned. These weights are held in position by a plurality of bolts 8 which extend through the tray and through the weights.

A pair of arms 9, 9 extend forwardly from Our counterbalance 1929. Serial No. 370,300.

the trayB and a bolt, pin, or the like, 10. ex

tends through the arms and through the walkbolt 11 extends through the center of the pin.

l Vith this arrangement there will be no reciprocal movement of the counterbalance when it is suspended. I 5

A hook bolt 12 extends upwardly from the tray 6 and'through the weights 7 and this hook bolt is adapted to receive a hook 13 which extends from a turn-buckle 14. A cable 15 extends from the turn-buckle' 14 to the top of the derrick for the purpose of suspending the counterbalance, as shownin Figure 2.

Abolt 16 extends through the walkingbeam and through the tray 6 for the purpose of securely holding the counterbalance in position on the beam. When the counterbalance is to be dispensed with the bolt 16 isremoved and the rear end of the beam is raised its maximum amount. The book 13 isthen engaged with o the bolt 12 and the beam is lowered. 'A heavy block is then inserted ontop of the beam after which the beam is again raised its maximum amount thus raising the counterbalance 5 an additional amount. The turn-buckle 14 is then screwed up to take the slack out of the line 15. and thus hold the counterbalance suspended above the beam and sufficiently spaced therefrom so that the beamwill not strike the counterbalanceas said beamoscillates.v

The reverse of the above action takes place when the counterbalance is again lowered onto the walking beam.

The counterbalance 5 may be suspended in a slightly different manner, as shown in Figure 5. With this arrangement a bar 17 is pivotally mounted on oneof the main beams forming the foundation for the derrick, as shown at 18, and the upper end of the bar is notched so as to engage the tray 6. The method of suspending thecounterbalance is the same as previously mentioned with the exception that the beam 17 is placed under the counterbalance instead of employing the hook 13 and turn-buckle 1 1.

Having described our invention, we claim: 1. In combination With a walking beam, a

V counterbalance adapted to be adjacent one end of said beam, and means pivotally securingsaid counterbalance to the beam, adjacent the center thereof.

21 In combination with a walking beam, a counterbalance adapted to be adjacent one end of said beam, and means pivotally securing said counterbalance to the beam, and means to support said counterbalance above the beam whereby the counterbalance is suspended. 3. In combination with a walking beam for wells, of a tray adapted to rest on one end of said beam, means pivotally securing said tray to the beam, aplurality of superposed Weights on the tray, means securingsaid weights to the tray, suspension means on the tray, and means adaptedto engage said suspension means whereby the counterbalance is supported above the beam.

4. In combination with a walking beam for tures.

FRANK HARDER.

' JOHN B. WATSON.

CHARLES W. MIDDLETON.

wells, of a tray adapted to rest on one end of said beam, a pair of arms extending from said tray, means pivotally securing said arms to the beam, a plurality of superposed weights on the tray, means securing said weights to the tray, and a hook bolt extending above said weights whereby the counterbalance may be suspended above the beam. 5. In combination with a walking beam 'for wells, of a tray adapted to rest on one end of said beam, a pair of arms extending from said tray, means pivotally securing said arms to the beam, a plurality of superposed weights on the tray, means securing said weights to the tray, and a hook bolt extending above said weights, a hook adapted to engage said hook bolt, a turn-buckle into which said hook is adapted to screw, and means suspending 7 said turn-buckle whereby the counterweight is supported above the beam.

6. In combination with a walking beam for wells, of'a tray adapted to rest on one end of said beam, means pivotally securing said tray to the beam, a pluralityof superposed weights on the tray, means securing said weights to the tray, suspension means on the tray, and'means adapted to engage said suspension means whereby the counterbalance is supported above the beam, and a bolt extending through the tray and through the beam whereby the counterbalance is removably held on the beam.

7. In combination with a walking beam for wells, comprising a tray adapted to rest on one end of the beam, a pair of arms extending from said tray, means pivotally securing said arms to the beam'adjacent the center thereof, a plurality of weights'on said tray means securing said weights to the tray, 'a bolt extending through the tray and the beam 

